Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies

Carmen ChamblissPictured | Carmen Chambliss | Communication Studies, Public Relations / Minor in African American Studies | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)
Club Affiliation | Black Student Union (president)


Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Communication Studies prepares students for a wide variety of careers including advertising, business, sales, communication consulting, training and development, human resources, politics, government, health fields, and other careers that focus on problem-solving interactions, management, and human relations.

Concentrations Offered
  • Journalism and Digital Media
  • Public Relations and Strategic Communication
  • Relational Communication and Social Interaction

Academic Advising

The Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors each semester prior to registration. Advising holds are placed on all Communication Studies students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Additionally, students may have a secondary advisor if they have also declared a minor outside of the department. Students can verify their assigned advisor in the student center at One.IU (one.iu.edu).


Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

Degree Map >>

Students receiving the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies degree must complete 120 total credit hours including:


  • A minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300– or 400–level.
  • Courses required for the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.
  • A minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required.
  • All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise noted.

Communication Core (27 cr.)
  • JOUR-C 200 Introduction to Mass Communication
  • JOUR-J 200 Reporting, Writing and Editing I
  • JOUR-J 410 Media as Social Institutions
  • SPCH-C 393 Communication Research Methods
  • SPCH-S 122 Interpersonal Communication
  • SPCH-S 205 Introduction to Speech Communication
  • SPCH-S 223 Business and Professional Communication
  • SPCH-S 334 Computer-Mediated Communication
  • SPCH-S 405 Human Communication Theory

Diversity Requirement (6 cr.)

Select two from the following:

  • JOUR-J 475 Race, Gender, and the Media
  • SPCH-S 427 Intercultural Communication
  • SPCH-S 450 Gender and Communication
  • TEL-T 313 Comparative Media Systems
  • Study abroad opportunity (in consultation with an advisor)
  • World Language course (in consultation with an advisor)

Capstone Experience (3 cr.)

Each student will complete a capstone experience, either through a senior comprehensive class or an internship.

Select one from the following

  • JOUR-J 492 Media Internship; OR
    SPCH-S 490 Professional Practical Internship 
  • SPCH-S 400 Senior Seminar in Speech 

Concentration Requirements >>

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

2021-2022 Campus Bulletin
2020-2021 Campus Bulletin
2019-2020 Campus Bulletin
2018-2019 Campus Bulletin
2017-2018 Campus Bulletin
2016-2017 Campus Bulletin
2015-2016 Campus Bulletin
2014-2015 Campus Bulletin

Please be aware that the PDF is formatted from the webpages; some pages may be out of order.